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LPS DECA students urge district to reduce barriers to national competitions, call for advisor support
Summary
Two Lincoln Southeast students who competed at the DECA International Career Development Conference urged the board to consider changes—funding for advisors and streamlined approval processes—to make national competitions more accessible to students.
Two Lincoln Southeast High School students who competed at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando addressed the board Tuesday, urging the district to reduce procedural and financial barriers that limit student access to national events.
Jack and Beau Castle described competing among roughly 23,000 students at the conference and said nine of 13 LPS students finished in the top 20% of their events. They said reaching the event required months of preparation and navigating approval processes that, in their view, can feel more like barriers than supports. They also said advisors are often expected to cover travel costs and that those costs are then passed to students, reducing accessibility.
"When students take the initiative, deliver the results, and earn international recognition, we believe that deserves real support, not just permission," Jack Castle said. The students named advisors who helped them—Matt Marr, Ally Thompson and Jessie Christiansen—and asked the board to consider ways to provide advisors with funding or to review district policies that delay student participation in national events.
Board members thanked the students for their remarks. The statement was received as public comment; no action was taken at the meeting.
